Australia was her chosen destination because it was possible for her to procure a visa online — “Because I wasn’t able to go anywhere alone,” she said in reference to Saudi Arabia’s guardianship laws, which limit women’s movements and freedom to travel.

She said she escaped by boarding a flight from Kuwait while there with her family.

Unlike Saudi Arabia, Kuwait doesn’t require a male guardian to sign off on women traveling from the country.

NOW is the time for #Saudi (and UAE and other Arab states) to end arcane and often cruel male guardianship over women, so that they can travel and marry as they wish.

Thai authorities have denied Rahaf access to the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees to make a refugee claim, Human Rights Watch said in a press release.

Thailand is obliged under international law to ensure that she isn’t forcibly sent to a place where she could be at risk of torture and other human rights violations, the NGO said.

“Saudi women fleeing their families can face severe violence from relatives, deprivation of liberty, and other serious harm if returned against their will,” said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

“Thai authorities should immediately halt any deportation, and either allow her to continue her travel to Australia or permit her to remain in Thailand to seek protection as a refugee.”

Robertson said Thai authorities were spreading fake stories about Rahaf, citing one Thai immigration official’s remark to CNN in which he said Rahaf was denied entry into Thailand because she didn’t have the requisite documents.

“She was transiting #Bangkok on her way to Australia and never intended to enter Thailand. This looks like Thai & #SaudiArabia playing games to me,” Robertson said in a tweet.

Robertson said Thai lawyers filed an injunction with a Bangkok criminal court to prevent Rahaf’s deportation, and urged the court to consider it quickly because “time is short and she faces dire peril if sent back from Thailand.”

“Once again we are seeing the abusive influence of Saudi authorities abroad as they seek to forcibly return Saudi women fleeing mistreatment and violence by their families,” said Page.

“Apparently, Saudi authorities not only want to perpetuate systematic discrimination of women at home and prevent Saudi women from freely travelling abroad, but also ensure that those who manage to escape are forced back to a life of abuse.”

Human Rights Watch said Rahaf faces possible criminal charges in Saudi Arabia for “parental disobedience” and for “harming the reputation of the kingdom” with her public appeals for help.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry denied orchestrating her detention at Bangkok airport or seizing her passport.

In a statement, the ministry said Rahaf was being deported because she lacked a return ticket or a tourist itinerary in Thailand. It didn’t address Rahaf’s stated claims of trying to travel to Australia.